Staying Connected--In His
Word- 4-23-18
Recently we had relatives
stop in for a visit. It had been years since we had had a really good visit,
not counting the time they gave me a drive and met for coffee when I went up to
see the family in Washington.
It was a nice visit, we had
time to chat, time to eat and time to play!
I feel like I know more
about them now that we have had the time to talk and observe one another, so to
speak.
When we visit with distant
located relatives it can be as if we had never been a day away. Or it can be
like visiting a stranger: it all depends on the relationship.
A relationship is something that needs work in order
to keep it fresh. Jesus kept his relationships close; the disciples and
apostles followed him closely in order to hear what He had to say
. 38 Then
saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye
here, and watch with me.39 And he
went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father,
if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but
as thou wilt.40 And he
cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What,
could ye not watch with me one hour? Matthew26:38-40 kjv
Jesus spoke with his father,
the Father God, regularly. He made is petition in the Garden of Gethsemane to
let the cup of crucifixion pass from him if it there was any other way to grant
us salvation; yet he gave God the authority to make the choice and accepted it
as His will be done. When you have a good relationship with someone you are not
afraid to ask for a favor. You also are not afraid to walk in the outcome.
I think we miss a section
there when we discuss this scripture. He fell on his face before God. Think
about the desperation that he fell on his face before God the father. That
would be the position of a person pleading their cause with everything in their
being.
When he was done, he got up
again and told the guys with him to sleep on. He knew what He had to do and was
going to do it because Father God said.
Don’t worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all
he has done. Philippians 4:6
Jesus gives us the example
of this when he prayed and then died on the cross for us because He shows us
that His will be done means that we will do it no matter what; He showed us by
his prayer that we can ask God anything! As long as we asked it in His will in
Jesus’ name.
“When you pray, don’t be like the
hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues
where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth that is all the reward they
will ever get. But when you pray, go
away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.
Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. “When you pray, don’t
babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered
merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for
your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this: Our
Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come
soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we
need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those
who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to
temptation but rescue us from the evil one. Matthew
6:4-9 (NLT)
You cannot expect to have a
relationship with someone if you do not pay attention to them, call them, and
visit them on a regular basis.
We need to speak the truth
to Him, and not try to get away with things. Jesus gave us this example of what
words we could say. Though as we read on we can see that He does not intend us
to read it out, or stand in public to recite it as a prayer but to pray along
that lie.
I
have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey
my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told
you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will
overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved
you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer
call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my
friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t
choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so
that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my
command: Love each other. John 15:9-17
We need to know that when we
are in Christ, He is with us, and if we keep his commands and love one another
then we are His friends. A friend loves at all times: not just when things are
going our way.
So if you only talk to God
when you are at church your relationship will not be a very good one. The old
hymn says; what a friend we have in Jesus
all our pains and grief’s to bare what a privilege to carry everything to God
in prayer.
When we spend time sharing our day, our
reading of the Word and sing songs of worship to Him, we are communicating and
growing our relationship with God.
By growing I mean that we
are getting closer to Him.
A good relationship builds
upon itself and the people become closer and closer.
Dear Heavenly Father, help
us to build a better relationship with you and not just pop in from time to
time. Help us to reconnect daily with you; In Jesus name, Amen.
Suggested reading: Mathew 6:1-34 , John 15:1-27, Philippians 4:1-23 and 1John
4:1-21